Rain fails to lure cattle buyers

Limited mainland competition on the day resulted in steer prices were reduced by 20-25 cents a kilogram liveweight, while heifers were 5-10c/kg lwt easier.

Steers made 220-260c/kg lwt, with a top price of $870 a head (404kg), while heifers topped at $800 (381kg) to realise 170-200c/kg.

Local buyers from the northwest coast were the most active on the day.

But the of lack of genuine interest from the buying field saw the prices fluctuate frequently especially on the lighter drafts of steers and throughout the entire heifer run.

The Elders conducted sale offered 2300 head and quality was considered of a higher standard than the previous, however large lines of breeders’ black cattle were not as prevalent as in recent years.